Range: Year-round in Southwestern California, Baja California, and Western Mexico. Summer resident west of the Rockies from Central Alaska to Northern Mexico. Winters south to Honduras. Casual, especially in fall, east of the Rocky Mountains.

Identification: (Tachycineta thalassina)

A small, slender swallow with short, narrow, pointed wings and a fairly short, shallowly forked tail. Tiny, dark bill. Adults: Bright emerald green crown and back contrast with gleaming white cheek, throat and under parts. White on the auriculars extends behind and above the eye, which is almost entirely surrounded by white feathering. Small patch of glossy purple at the base of the nape, often looks gray in low light. Center of the rump is mostly deep violet with some emerald green feathering. White wraps up from the lower flanks onto the sides of the rump, giving this species a unique dorsal pattern among North American swallows. White may appear to connect across the upper rump in some individuals. Juveniles dusky brown above. Cheeks pale brown, lighter than crown, and a whitish crescent curls up behind the auriculars. Distinguished from the larger Tree Swallow by green and purple (not blue-green) upper parts, white extending above eye, and more white on sides of rump.

Length: 13 (cm)
Wingspan: 34 (cm)

Voice:

Voice consists of several short, chirpy chree-chree notes, interspersed with a higher, rising chrit and other similar notes.

Habitat:

Occupies many open habitats, including lakes and rivers, fields, and forest openings. Nests in tree cavities, dirt banks, rock crevasses, or on man-made structures.

Behavior:

Frequently forms large post-breeding flocks (July-Aug). Generally forages higher than other swallows, but also feeds low over fields or water. Flight erratic with fluttery wing beats.

Field Notes

I don't think of this species as a short-winged swallow. A look at the photos in the gallery suggests that, indeed, this is one of the longer-winged species. As indicated above, Violet-greens often fly very high, so high that they can't be seen except with binoculars. A penetrating "chair-tee" note given once or twice, followed by a hectic chittering, is a tipoff when they're flying high.